NEWS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE October 2022 17 Evonik using epigenetics to trace animal welfare Evonik has developed a test for chicken products that shows how the animals were kept and fed. This reliable new method, which was developed with the aid of epigenetics, enhances transparency and therefore raises consumer confidence. Epigenetics is a branch of biology that determines how the environment an animal has been exposed to influences patterns on its genetic material. Evonik sees potential users along the entire chicken production chain, especially agricultural enterprises and retailers. Evonik's new epigenetic test will extend its range of system solutions for sustainable meat production. At present, experts are working to tailor the test method to the requirements of different customers. For this purpose, Evonik is building up an epigenetics and bioinformatics platform in Singapore. This will have around 10 employees in the future. Development work is well advanced, so the specific tests can be made available to customers in the short- to mid-term. Walter Pfefferle, a biologist who works as a manager at Creavis, Evonik's strategic research entity and business incubator says: “Our technology opens up a completely new insight into poultry production. Chickens can now tell their own story.” In cooperation with Illumina, a leading provider of systems for large-scale analysis of genetic variation and function, Evonik has now developed an epigenetic chip that allows rapid analysis of, for example, samples of meat, despite the enormous amount of data. A pretreated sample is applied to a test area on the chip, which measures changes in the genome of the sample. The data can be read with a special appliance and are then evaluated using AI-based algorithms. In its laboratories in Singapore, Evonik is now validating the method, feeding data to the algorithms, and exploring new areas of application. ADM celebrates 120th anniversary ADM, formally known as Archer-Daniels-Midland Company and one of the world’s largest human and animal nutrition companies with 41,000 employees in around 200 countries, celebrated its 120th anniversary. September 30 marked the 120th birthday for ADM, formally known as Archer-Daniels-Midland Company. ADM was incorporated on Sept. 30, 1902, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as a regional linseed oil business. Today, ADM – with 41,000 employees serving customers in nearly 200 countries – is an indispensable global agricultural supply chain manager and processor, a premier human and animal nutrition company, a trailblazer in groundbreaking solutions to support healthier living, a cutting-edge innovator in replacing petroleum-based products, and a leader in sustainability. “Over the past 120 years, our company has evolved from a regional startup into an irreplaceable leader providing needed nutrition to billions around the globe. We’ve transformed at many moments along the way, but unlocking the power of nature to enrich lives has always been at the heart of everything we do,” said Juan Luciano, Chairman and CEO. To celebrate the milestone, ADM conducted a Fight Hunger Challenge to bring employees together around the world to raise money for hunger relief. As a result, ADM Cares has donated 1.2 million meals in partnership with the World Food Program, Feeding America and Food Banks Canada.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==